U S and U K Aircrew pistols were normally full size steel frame before WW2, Most other militaries had already accepted the smaller blowback autoloaders as officers pistols if the officer was expected to use it in a defensive role rather than as a combat weapon.

During WW2 many aircrew received rib injuries on bailing out if wearing a 1911 or S&W revolver in a shoulder holster or in a pocket of a survival vest. In post WW2 years the USAF began looking for a much lighter handgun that would not slam into the crewman's ribcage when his chute opened.